I-Corps: Eclectic Applications of Zinc Oxide & Metal Doped ZnO constructs

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力主要是解决最近对纳米颗粒对整体健康影响的担忧。基于纳米颗粒对个人健康有害的科学主张，监管机构、公司和公众在寻找他们一直使用的材料和产品的非纳米替代品方面变得更加警惕。除了为许多个人护理产品中使用的现有金属氧化物提供非纳米替代品外，该项目还允许更环保的制造工艺和最终产品。具有成本效益的合成方法将使这些替代品成为配方设计师、毒理学家和其他参与制造决策过程的人员的可行替代品。该I-Corps项目旨在专注于为氧化锌的新合成方法寻找最佳产品市场。这种合成依赖于较温和的温度，仅使用水基前体，其用于产生无表面活性剂、形态相同和非纳米氧化锌颗粒。相同的方法可用于产生具有增强的性质的金属掺杂的氧化锌构造，这取决于所使用的金属。反应物的折衷性质和环境友好的品质使这种一锅法合成成为最先进的氧化锌合成的生态意识替代品的完美候选者。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is primarily a solution to recent concerns of the effects of nanoparticles on overall health. Based on scientific claims that nanoparticles are detrimental to an individuals health, regulatory agencies, companies, and the general public have become more vigilant in finding non-nano alternatives to materials and products that they have been using. In addition to providing a non-nano alternative to existing metal oxides used in many personal care products, this project also allows for more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and end products. Cost-effective synthetic methods will allow for these alternatives to be feasible replacements to formulators, toxicologists, and other people involved in the manufacturing decision-making process.This I-Corps project aims to focus on finding the best product market fit for the novel synthetic methodology of Zinc Oxide. This synthesis relies on milder temperatures with only water-based precursors that are utilized to yield surfactant-free, morphologically identical, and non-nano zinc oxide particles. The same methodology can be use to yield metal-doped zinc oxide constructs with enhanced properties depending on the metal used. The eclectic nature and environmentally friendly qualities of the reactants make this one-pot synthesis a perfect candidate for an ecologically conscious alternative to the state-of-the-art zinc oxide synthesis.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.